Student Organizations

Student organizations are fantastic ways to expand your legal education. From dynamic speakers to social engagements, student organizations can get you connected with students and causes. Also, many groups will give you an opportunity to see the law in practice by introducing you to speakers, attorneys, and judges who are interested in the same areas you are. Look around at our list of organizations and find one, or more, that suits you best.

Student Government

Student Bar Association Our main objectives as a student organization are to: (a) sponsor ethical, academic, professional, social, and cultural activities for its members; (b) represent student ideas and concerns to the faculty and administration; (c) serve as a communication link between students and the faculty, administration, alumni, and Milwaukee community; and (d) represent the American Bar Association to the student body.

Fraternal

Phi Alpha Delta The purpose of this Fraternity shall be to form a strong bond uniting students and teachers of the law with members of the Bench and Bar in a fraternal fellowship designed to advance the ideals of liberty and equal justice under law; to stimulate excellence in scholarship; to inspire the virtues of compassion and courage; to foster integrity and professional competence; to promote the welfare of its members; and to encourage their moral, intellectual, and cultural advancement; so that each member may enjoy a lifetime of honorable professional and public service.

Areas of Law

American Constitution Society for Law & Public Policy What we are about: We seek to revitalize and transform the legal debate, from our classrooms to our courtrooms, to counter the narrow conservative vision that dominates American law today. We hope to reform and revitalize the debate in order to look at the ways in which the law affects people's lives.

Business Law Society The Business Law Society seeks to help students deepen their understanding of the interplay between the business sector and the legal system. It provides its members with opportunities to meet and interact with business law faculty and professionals from the local business and business law communities.

Children & Family Law Society Marquette's Children and Family Law Society seeks to inform students of employment, volunteer and school-related opportunities that arise in the children and family law fields; to encourage members to volunteer their time and energy to efforts in the Milwaukee area related to the well being of children; to inform members of upcoming lectures, seminars, and workshops related to family law; and to advocate and raise awareness about children and family law issues.

Criminal Law Society The purpose of this organization is to expose students to the field of criminal law and encourage awareness of the legal and practical aspects of the criminal justice system.

Dispute Resolution Society The Dispute Resolution (DR) Society is one of the largest and most active student organizations at Marquette University Law School. Our mission is to support and promote the use of alternative dispute resolution within the law school, the legal community and the greater community.

Entertainment Law Society ELS helps promote student interest in legal topics related to entertainment and media, music, advertising, copyright, trademark, television and radio, publishing, and art, by organizing various events with law students and professionals in the industry.

Environmental Law Society The Environmental Law Society seeks to promote environmental activism in the Marquette Law School community by providing information on current environmental issues and cultivating relationships with environmental professionals in the greater Milwaukee area.

Estate Planning Society The EPS's mission is to assist law students who are interested in estate planning as a career or who are simply interested in learning more about the field.

The Federalist Law Society The Society's main purpose is to sponsor fair, serious, and open debate about the need to enhance individual freedom and the role of the courts in saying what the law is rather than what they wish it to be. We believe debate is the best way to ensure that legal principles that have not been the subject of sufficient attention for the past several decades receive a fair hearing. We hope to contribute to the ideals of free speech, free debate, and the public understanding of the Constitution.

Health Law Society Our main purpose as a student organization is to act as a resource for students interested in health law. This does not just include medical malpractice, but also other areas related in the health care industry such as employment and labor law, taxation of non-profits, real estate, general business law, risk management and regulatory compliance. In the past, the Health Law Society has sponsored guest speakers from the legal and health care fields, represented Marquette Law School at national conferences, held networking events, organized a blood drive for law faculty, volunteered and the Ronald McDonald House, and held fundraising events for local organizations.

Intellectual Property Law Society The Marquette Intellectual Property Law Society acts as a resource for students interested in IP law, and organizes monthly events featuring distinguished speakers from the local Intellectual Property professional community.

International Law Society The primary objectives of the ILS at Marquette Law School are to promote the study of international and comparative law and legal studies, to provide educational and professional opportunities for students to further their interests in international law and to contribute to a greater understanding and appreciation of the diverse political, economic, social and legal cultures which constitute the international community.

Labor & Employment Law Society Marquette LELS encourages law students to pursue a career in labor and employment law. We work to inspire and educate the next generation of competent passionate labor and employment practitioners to address the conflicts that arise in the course of employment. From Title VII claims to ERISA questions, the scope of employment issues is broad, and the number in need is large.

Marquette Immigration Law Association The Marquette Immigration Law Association (MILA) connects Marquette University Law School to Milwaukee’s immigrant and refugee community by recruiting and organizing students to volunteer with community agencies that provide free and low-cost legal services for immigrants and refugees.

Marquette Legal Writing SocietyMarquette Legal Writing Society (MLWS) has been established to encourage law students to learn about legal writing and research. MLWS promotes professional legal research and writing and cultivates student interest in the utility and importance of legal writing. This organization seeks to facilitate development of student skills, while acting as a complement to the law school’s legal writing program.

Marquette Trial Lawyers - AAJ/WAJ The main goals of AAJ/WAJ as a student organization are to bridge the gap between law school and civil litigation practice, to sharpen students' practical lawyering skills, and to participate in activities with the Milwaukee civil litigation community.

Real Estate Law Society The primary function of this student organization is to increase students' knowledge in the area of real estate, finance, tax, development and other issues that encompass the real property arena. The goal of the organization is to open networking channels between the students, alumni, and greater Milwaukee area.

Restorative Justice Society The goal of RJS is to provide a meaningful and unique opportunity for law students to become involved in the Milwaukee community while utilizing the healing tools, and embracing the values, of restorative justice.

Sports Law Society Marquette's Sports Law Society acts as the student arm of the Marquette University Law School Sports Law Program. Society members assist the Sports Law Program and the National Sports Law Institute in preparing conferences, seminars, workshops, career panels and other events, in addition to hosting various social events for Society members.

Religious

Christian Legal Society CLS is a membership organization of Christian attorneys, judges, paralegals, law students, and other legal professionals dedicated to serving Jesus Christ through the practice of law, defense of religious freedom, and provision of legal aid to the needy. We invite you to join our nationwide Christian legal community.

Jewish Law Students Association The Jewish Law Students Association (JLSA) is an organization that fosters the cultural, social, educational, and religious dimensions of Judaism amongst the Marquette University Law School community. The Marquette JLSA seeks to develop within its membership a sense of Jewish identity, an awareness to current issues in the Jewish community as they pertain to the law, and an appreciation as well as a celebration of traditions within Judaism.

St. Thomas More Society The St. Thomas More Society provides a forum for exploring the ways in which the Catholic intellectual and moral traditions can help inform our understanding and practice of the law.

Support, Affiliation & Advocacy Groups

Association of Law Students with Families The Association of Law Students with Families is a support group for law students with families, who thus face the unique challenge of balancing the rigors of school with the many duties of family life.

Out & Allies Legal Society We encourage law students to promote fairness regardless of sexual orientation. We advocate for LGBT perspectives in legal studies, we provide a support network for LGBT students during their law school career, and we also provide academic, professional and social events for all students.

Student Veterans SocietySVS has been established to encourage law students to engage the legal community in active participation with veterans and their legal and non-legal concerns.

Multicultural

Asian Law Student Association Our mission is to facilitate an environment which fosters the social, academic and professional development of all students, particularly students of color, and to recognize and celebrate the unique attributes of an asian american heritage and to create a community where this heritage is embraced.

Black Law Student Association The Marquette University Black Law Students Association (BLSA) is an organization created and designed to articulate and promote the professional needs and goals of Black law students.

Hablando Del Derecho To promote the continued improvement of Spanish language skills among Spanish-speaking law students through weekly conversation groups and connections to Spanish language events and activities at Marquette, UWM, and in the greater Milwaukee area.

Hispanic Law Student Association Hispanic Law Student Association ("HLSA") is an inclusive organization geared toward providing support to students of Hispanic heritage and those who have an interest in the Hispanic culture. HLSA provides students with opportunities for networking, professional development, and community service. HLSA engages in fundraising, community service, and professional speaking events every semester. We welcome all students who wish to join our organization.

Competitive

Client Skills Board The purpose of the Client Skills Board is to increase awareness of the dispute resolution process. Familiarity with arbitration, mediation, client counseling and negotiation skills is a necessity for any legal practitioner. The Client Skills Board provides students with the opportunity to apply concepts learned in the classroom while developing fundamental skills that are relevant to any area of practice.

Moot Court Board Students who compete in national moot court competitions are invited to be members of the Moot Court Board. In conjunction with faculty supervisors, Board members oversee and administer the various components of the moot court program at MULS. Board members may apply to become Executive Board members through an application and interview process.

Public Service

Association for Women Lawyers AWL is a service organization open to all members of the law school community. This organization is dedicated to improving the environment for female and male students at Marquette University Law School, in the legal community, and in the community at large.

Marquette University Volunteer Legal Clinic At the MVLC, volunteer attorneys and MU law students serve the Milwaukee community by providing pro bono legal information and referral services to individuals in need of legal assistance, while providing the students with the opportunity to serve the community, enhance their classroom learning, observe practicing attorneys and be mentored by same.

National Lawyer's Guild The National Lawyers' Guild (NLG) was founded in 1937 as the first integrated bar association. Since its founding, the NLG has dedicated itself to using the law as a resource for enacting positive, progressive and substantive change in our society.

Pro Bono Society Our main purpose as a student organization is to encourage the provision of uncompensated legal services by our faculty and students.

Public Interest Law Society The purpose of the PILS is to act as a resource for Marquette University Law School (MULS) students interested in public interest law, and to stimulate interest in this area of law. This purpose shall be carried out by sponsoring programs, seminars, and social activities that deal with current topics in public interest law and by acquainting members with professionals in the community. The PILS is also dedicated to providing community service and enhancing public opinion of the profession.

Raise the Bar The Marquette University Law School Raise the Bar Student Organization seeks to improve the quality of education and life of Milwaukee area students. Through tutoring, leadership, and mentoring students in the community, Raise the Bar hopes to encourage an interest in legal careers and higher education. By assisting the Street Law teachers, partnering with other student groups, and sponsoring Raise the Bar events, law students will have diverse opportunities to assist students in the community.

Student Animal Legal Defense Fund Student Animal Legal Defense Fund (SALDF) chapters are student groups that are affiliated with the Animal Legal Defense Fund and share its mission to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals through the legal system.

Law School Publications

Not seeing what you like? Starting an organization is a great way to develop leadership skills. Each organizations makes a lasting contribution to Marquette University Law School and provides meaningful experiences for fellow students. Dean Rogan-Mehta, would be glad to meet with you to discuss how you can start a new organization. You can contact her in the Student Services Suite, Room 238, at 414-288-0636, or via email.